Head Revolt Pro 4.0 Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.5

The common denominator for the Head Revolt Pro 4.0 was the break-in period for our playtesters. Like he did with the outgoing model, Chris exercised patience, and it paid off. He explained, "It took me a few hours to get my pair of Revolt Pro 4.0s to break in. At first, my feet were sliding around inside the shoes, but this got better with more wear. There were several instances when my toes jammed into the ends of the shoes on sudden stops. I found a much more comfortable ride once the shoes molded to the shape of my feet, and I wasn't sliding around as much. My arches felt well supported, and I never felt any undue rubbing from the shoes. I liked the level of cushioning in the Revolt Pro 4.0s, as my feet rode comfortably without feeling too elevated or disconnected from the court. I also liked the ventilation, and my feet never ran hot in these shoes."

Although Sage liked these shoes overall, he noted a few downsides. He said, "This was a polarizing playtest, and there were some pluses and some minuses. The ventilation system Head uses is noticeably better than most other shoes I've worn. The cushion around the ankle was supportive and comfortable. Fit-wise, they are true to size. During a break-in of about four hours, I experienced some toe jamming when I chased down a drop shot or came to a split step coming forward. The shoes did open up, and the end of the testing was significantly better than the beginning. The cushioning was good but not great. I could feel my feet following longer hitting sessions and would like just a little more underfoot."

Jason appreciated the improvements Head made with this newest release. He described, "These shoes needed a good three to four hours of court time to break in for me. I like that they are now running true to size and are a good width for me as well. They felt fairly comfortable on court, with decent cushioning underfoot."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.9

As Head's purpose-built line of stable shoes, the Revolt Pro 4.0s did not disappoint. Sage was confident moving aggressively in this updated shoe. He said, "The Revolt Pro 4.0s stayed low to the ground and stable. I rely on my movement to extend points, so I can confidently say I put them to the test. Whether I was pushed out wide or had to come forward, they remained steady when I planted into a shot. The only issue I had was the toe jamming I mentioned above. It happened less often in the latter stages, but it was still on my mind if I had to come forward into the court. As for the support, the arches worked well with my medium feet."

Jason echoed Sage, loving these shoes during lateral battles from the baseline. He explained, "When I was moving side to side and changing directions, I felt like the stability was solid. The uppers were rigid and stable enough for even the most aggressive movements. That said, I had some issues when I was moving forward and quickly stopping. In a few instances there were twinges of toe jamming."

The balanced feel following the break-in period gave Chris what he was looking for. He said, "This area of the test definitely got better for me with more wear. At first, the shoes were not holding my feet well, and I was uncomfortably sliding into the ends on quick stops. As the shoes softened up and started to fit my foot shape, the uppers supported better. I then had less jamming of my toes into the toecaps, but it never completely went away. I found the stability to be good from the first wear to the last. The shoes felt solid on lateral moves thanks to the wide footprint and good torsional rigidity from the midfoot shank and heel cup."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.5

Durability was the Head Revolt Pro 4.0's standout category. Our playtest team could find nothing to complain about here, especially given the six-month durability guarantee. Jason explained, "Like with previous generations of the Revolt Pro, the durability on these shoes is excellent. They held up very well, and there are very few signs of wear and tear after about 20 hours of court time."

Like Jason, Chris was pleased with how these shoes fared. He said, "I found the Revolt Pro 4.0s to hold up very well. Both the uppers and the outsoles proved to be durable. I put more than 20 hours on the shoes playing on hard courts and still had plenty of life left in my pair at the end of the test. Even the highest wear areas of the outsoles were still going strong, and I've worn completely through lesser offerings in much less time. The uppers at the toes of the shoes also proved to be strong enough for hard court play. While my shoes had plenty of scuff marks, the upper materials were holding up well, and I'd expect to get many more hours of play out of these."

"No news is good news in this category," added Sage. "The outsoles held up nicely throughout the testing. The toe guards showed a small amount of wear, but I realistically wasn't close to going through them. The six-month durability guarantee is also a great bonus for players who are putting high mileage on their shoes."

Traction - Score: 4.0

As was the trend with this playtest, the Head Revolt Pro 4.0s required court time to settle into a traction level that worked best for our team. Chris said, "I got off to a bit of a slippery start in the Revolt Pro 4.0s. For about the first three hours of hitting, I couldn't find the grip needed for an aggressive push off for a quick sprint. Once the outsoles had scrubbed in a bit, the traction vastly improved, and I had no issues from then on. With the outsoles broken in, I was able to sprint around the court at full speed, come to a quick stop or change direction and trust I'd find just the right amount of grip to get the job done."

Jason prefers having the option to slide into and out of shots. He said, "The outsoles provided a blend of both grip and give, with a bit more grip than give. I felt like I was still able to slide slightly when changing directions, but it wasn't as easy to do as it is with other shoes. When making that initial push off, I thought the grip was great and had no slippage issues."

Initially, Sage thought these shoes were on the verge of being too sticky, but he liked them more as time wore on. He explained, "The Revolt Pro 4.0s definitely needed a break-in, but after a few hours of court time they got closer to the grip I prefer. I'm not a huge slider, but I do like to feel the outsoles give a little bit when I'm on the run. It took full commitment to feel like I could slide into a shot and get them to break loose. It wasn't a negative experience by any means, but the traction didn't quite align with what I'm looking for. I'd recommend these shoes to a player who doesn't regularly look to slide."

Weight - Score: 4.1

The Revolt Pro 4.0 is Head's go-to shoe for the player who values stability and durability, so while it isn't light, it holds its own in terms of performance. Sage said, "These shoes are middle of the road as far as weight goes and comparable to the previous version. I found a combination of stability and speed on court. They would work well for a player who wants durable shoes that still feel fast during explosive moves. This was one of the most impressive aspects of the shoes for me."

Once Chris had broken in his pair, he thought the Revolt Pro 4.0s felt smooth and natural. He described, "Although the Revolt Pro 4.0s are built to last, they did not feel heavy on court. I was more cognizant of the shoes at first due to the break-in period, but as the test wore on these shoes felt more natural to move in. I prefer the lighter and faster feel of the Head Sprint Pro 3.5s overall, but I still felt like I moved well in these."

While Jason didn't think the Revolt Pro 4.0 felt especially speedy, he was happy with how they performed given their stability and resilience. He said, "These shoes aren't going to be classified as 'lightweight,' but the good news is that they aren't clunky. For the amount of durability and stability they provide, the weight was a nonissue for me."

Overall - Score: 4.0